Refrigerator cabinet structure



March 20, 1951 w. H. "PUscH REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l, 1948 w m m T pm m H m r a A M M. C m u@ March 20, 1951 w. H. PUSCH & 7

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE Filed March 1948 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A 'r TO/?NEY W. H. PUSCH REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE March 20, 1951 Filed March l, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 H llll 7% WALTEE H. PUSCH INVENT0R.V

BY d' z 'g ATToeNEV Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UN T D sT Tes. PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to refrigeration units of i I the automatic type, particularly adapted for use 'in homes, and other domestic applications; its

principal object residing in the provision of a commodious cabinet preferably having a circular inner Wall whereby a rotative rack support behind a transparent sliding panel may be provided to afford ready accessibility to all parts of the storage space at any time, thus providing for storage of maximum quantities of products in a minirefrigeratingair behind the transparent panel. i.

It is; an object of' the invention to provide an especially designed refrigeratingunit in which is embodied features of design affording a -wider cooling range for certain products requiring exceptonally low; temperatures; while providing ample storage space for products requiring lesser amounts of refrigeration; while providing still milder temperatures for such as the firming of butter; and minimizing the necessity for frequent defrosting by applying a gentler cold over a wider area for the food preservation chamber, and by avoiding imprisoning moisture on frozen coiis, which generaly has a, deteriorating efter-t upon certain types of foods.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a structure which embodies features of design rendering it capable ofbeing embodied n a variety of forms of oconstruction by which the same may be applied to certain odd shaped stonage spaces, as in corners, small closets, and combination kitchen` units: and thus avoiding conventional designs of rectangular cabinets which must be set away from confining walls for proper 'circulation A still further object of the mea; resides in' the provision of a unique arrangement of re movable storage racks capable of being vertically spaced as desired to provide a maximum of stor-' e 2 e. vision of a refrigeration unit which provides -io r the maximum amount of efiective storage in-a minimum amount of space so that the cabinetin which the device is arranged may be designed to conform'ably fit into otherwise unusable spaces, such as odd shaped corners, and other similar recesses not ordinarily considered desirable for the arrangement of refrigerating units; and so that storage may be reviewed and items selected without undue loss of cold. r i While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a transverse cross-sectional View illustrating the preferred form-of the invention, taken on lines l-l of Figure 2, showing the circular outer walls and the conformable inner wails in which an annular space is provided for the circulation of the refrigerant, and illustrating the circular arrangement-of storage racks and the transparent inner front closure of the cabinet. Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View; taken on lines 2--2 of Figure 1, illustrating the freezing compartment in the top of the cabinet 'and showing the arrangement of rotative rack supporting means in the cabinet.

Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates, in 1ateral section, the freezing compartment, and illustrates the arrangemcnt therein of a set of freezing trays. i

Figure 4 is a ragmentary vertical cross-sectional illustration of the butter compartment in the closure of the refrigerator cabinet, taken on lines 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the automatic temperature adjustment means for the said but'- ter compartment. 4 I Figure 5 is a fragmentary lateral cross-sectional view through the automatic ventilating de'- vice, taken on lines 5-.-5 of Figura 4. Figure 6 is a perspective illustration of the rotatable rack support showing wipers arranged thereon for wiping the moisture from the top, bottom, and sides of the circular interier of the cabinet, and showing the turning ring for turning the rack while the inner transparent doorof the cabinet is closed.

Figure '7 is a plan View of an arrangement oi' semi-circular racks adapted to be installed on the rack support shown in Figure 6. I j Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed cross-sectional illustration of the wall constructionof the cabinet, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and fragreur s.. i 4,

cabinet showing an insulated water containeradapted to be cooled by the unit and having a' dispensing spigot thereon.

Figure 12 is a ragmentary elevational illustration, showing portions cut away, of the water cooling device illustrated in Figure 11, the illustration being taken on lines 12-42 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the water cooling device embodied inithe cabinet, showing a closure for the front of the `device providing a tray when hinged downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 13.

Figure 14 is a front elevational View of one form of the cabinet in a single domestic unit,

showing the front door, the automatic butter conditioner" unit, and a water cooling compartment.

Figure 15 isa plan view of one form of the cabinet shown to be ,positioned in a corner of a room.

Figure 16 is another plan View of the invention -adapted to arrangement in a corner 'by having the front door at right angles to one of the walls,

and

Figure 17 illustrates another adaptation of the invention in a unique cabinet arrangement in which is embodied certain other useful features.

It is contemplated, therefore, that the invention. in its preferred form be provided with a housing ID of any desirable exterior shape, but having circular internal walls, as illustrated in Figure 1. In such an arrangement a greater effective storage area may be provided with maximum accessibility due to the fact that the invention includes a maximum flexibility of shelf arrangement made possible, as shown in Figure 6,

by a plurality of vertical standards H which have widened portions [2 formed on their lower ends, having a plurality of sets of perforation's !3 at spaced levels, to support grill types of racks [4 such as that illustrated in Figure '7, and due to the fact that the rotary rack supporting device *as shown in Figure 6 may he rotated, to bring any and all food stored on the racks to the front for v |9 for the passage of refrigerant gases, theremaining space of the liquid-tight compartment being filled with a stable, non-Corrosive,` anti'- freeze fluid or other liquid or solid cold-conducting'material which will then conduct the concentrated cold of the refrigerant conduit !9 to the inner wall !5 in diffused and mild form, thus preventing the formation of frost on the chamber side of the inner wall !5 while yet cooling the food chamber to proper proportions, as a large surface just above freezing will exert the same cooling effect as a very small surface considerably below freezing.

The hinged door 22 in the front of the housing ll] is of such thickness as to accommodate a chamber 23 having a storage compartment therein, presently to be described, and which is especially designed to receive small amounts of items, such as butter, maintaining this commodity at firm but spreadable consistency. A hinged door 24 is provided for the small firming compartment,

providing accessibility to the latter without opening the primary door 22.

A transparent closure 25 for the opening in the front of the cabinet ll) is slidably arranged interiorly of the latter and is curved in transverse section conformable to the curvature of the interior wall |5 of the housing n, as illustrated particularly in Figure 1. The closure 25 is adapted to slide horizontally in a segmenta'l recess' 26 for-med in the interior wall !5 as access is desired to the interior of the housing ID. Meanwhile, by reason of the transparency of the closure 25, the contents of the coolin chamber can be observed 'without opening the closure 25 to allow cold air to escape and warm air to enter. A lamp 25' i provided for the illumination of the interior of the cabinet I 0. It is desirable to afford a lamp having bacteria-inhibiting properties and capable of bathing the contents as the racks are rotated.

A suitably insulated top 21 and bottom 28 are provided for the housing ID, as shown in Figure 2, and a freezing compartment 29, preferably having a circular form, as illustrated in Figure 1, is arranged in the upper portion of the housing ill, as shown in Figure 2. The freezing compartment 29 is suitably insulated by insulating material 39 arranged between the refrigerant conduits 34 and outer walls 32 of the compartment 29 so that any cold loss to the main chamber may not be of such concentrated intensity as to cause frost formation in' the main cooling chamber. Between the freezing compartment inner wall 29 and the freezing compartment insulation is a plurality of vertical passages 34, serpentine as required, for the passage of the refrigerant gas. A hinged closure 35 closes the opening into the freezing compartment 29, as illustrated in Figura 1.

Any arrangement of trays for the compartment 29 may be employed, but it is desirable that the vertical subdivision of the space be as shown in the trays 31, 38 and 39 in Fi ura 1, and diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3. By reason of the fact that the freezing compartment 29 is substantially circular in form, as shown in Figures l and 3, it is necessary to form the trays in segments such as 31, 38 and 39, so that the central tray 31 is substantially rectangular in form, having one arcuately formed end, while the opposingly arranged trays 38 and 39 each have the form of a segment of a circle and are oppositely arranged, as in Figure 3, In this arrangement the central tray 31 must be removed from the compartment 29 before either of the trays 38 or 39 can be removed therefrom, as demonstrated in the diagrammatic illustration shown in Figure 3. Horizontally, the freezing chamber space may be divided into various tray levels, and spaces 36 may be left for loose storage of packaged frozen foods not requiring tray storage.

The rack support shown in Figure 6, and comprising the plurality of vertical standards' !2, has a manual-turning ring 40 arranged about its top quirernent. shown to be considerably below ceilin'g level of v the cooling chamber, the manual turning ring 4&

e s ume r andconnected'to the upper ends -of the standards -l2 while the latter are radially connected by horizontal bars M at whose intersection 42 cenitraily of the assembiy is an integral pintle 33 projectin downwardly to engage a hearing i i in the'bottom 28 of the housing ID, as illustrated "in Figure 2. the top of the rack. support is a hearing ring &5

Concentrically of' the ring wat having a race &a ormed circumferentially inter- It is desirable to arrange asemicircular wire ftray il in the upper end of the rack support 'shown in Figure 6 to aceommodate bottles, jars,

and other articles not Conveniently arrangeable* *upon shelves or rache.

rotated by manually Operating the ring se within ?the housing li) any item within the latter and supp orted upon the rack can be brought before "the opening over which the door 22 is arranged, ;the sliding closure 25 being pushed back int the `T6C8SS ZE, so that ready access may be had to the articles without disturbing other objects ,stored in the cabinet.

wire shelves or racks M which may be arranged' upon the standards !2, either in units, as shown in Figure l, or in half units in a manner which As the rack support is This is also true of the will be presently described.

The food raoks M, illustrated in plan in Figure 7, are preferably provided in sections 5! and 52, each constituting a segment of a circle. outer rims 53 of members 5! and 52 are formed -with substantially V-shaped crimps 54 adapted The to embrace the portions z of the standards H Hinged latchbe pressed downwardly beside the standards i i to secure the sections in place and prevent their 'being accidentally dislodged. A detail of this arrangement is illustrated in' Figure 10. It is desirable to provide the racks id in sections in order that they may be properly placed within the cirvoular interier of the cabinet iii and also to prou vide an arrangement whereby only half shelves' or racks can be provided, quadrantly arranged,

if it is desired to accommodate articles of dihfer j ent height, such as mustard j'ars and melons, and the like.

` V sliding transparent door 25,. is mounted, at 'it-stop and bottom, in channel guide members 5? and 58, respectively, and one or more rollers 53' water is provided at the bottom of the door 25 to expe- 'dite its movement along the lower channel 58, as i1lustrated in Figures 8 and 9. This arrangement may be modified. according to the individual re- The top channel guide member 57 thue being accessible at the door of the cabinet 2 and. 8, is well Arranged longitudinally of 'at least :one of the standards H, and along the outer edge thereof, is a flexible strip 60, of rubber or similar material, which is adapted to engage the inner surface of the inner circular wall 15 of the cabinet lil in a squeegee action designed to constantly remove whatever condensatemoisture may appear on the surface of the chamber. Each time the rack support is moved within the cabinet II! the member SG will function to wipe any moisture from the walls. Normal operation of the rack support will therefore keep the chamber walls clean and dry. such a strip Bi may be provided longitudinally of one of the arms 49 connecting the rings and horizontally at the top of the raek support and is adapted to engage the ceiling, the underside-of the top of the cabinet I'U, and thus keep moisture from accumulating 'thereon in the same manner as on the inner walls.

In the compartment ai in the chamber 23, formed in the door 22 of the cabinet n, and illustrated in detail in Figures 4 and 5, a grilled rack 63' is provided upon which small quantities of such articles as butter, and the like, may be placed to receive sufficient but not excessive cooling. The compartment 61 is ventilated through a series of vertical slots 64 arranged on each side of he compartment and closable by a series of spaced closures 65 as the closure mechanism is slidably operated through the medium of an automatic thermal control apparatus BE. A slide te is arranged in a chamber below the rack 63', as illustrated in Figure 4, and moves horizontally sufciently to open or close the vents or slots 64 in one wall of the chamber so as to alternately close the opening on one side while opening the i same on the opposite side, admitting air from the atmosphere outside of the cabinet lil in one operation while excluding cold air from the intericr of the cabinet iii, and conversely, when the temperature is sufiiciently high in the compartment t'i to open the slots 64 interiorly of the cabinet m and admit cold air to the compartment 61. The thermal control unit 66, of course, is caused to function by the Variations in temperature, maintaining the temperature within the compartment 61 at suitable values to properly preserve the product stored therein and prevent over-refrigeration or from moisture deterioration. By reference to Figures 11, 12 and 13, it will be noted that, if desirahle, a water reservoir 69 may be provided to maintain cold drinking water capable of being dispensed through a suitable spigot li?. The reservoir 53 may be arranged on either side of the door 22 of a cabinet lil, and, if desired, there may be a closure 'li covering the spigot and fillercap 12, which is hinged at a to the cabinet as illustrated in Figura 13, and is capable of being lowered to a horizontal position, as in dotted lines in Figure 13, to provide a tray for [glas-ses, or other articles. Such an arrangement, however, is capable of being modified in any manner best suited to the particular requirement's. i

It has already been stated that it is contemplated that the exterior housing of the cabinet lil may be of any desired form, as in Figures 15 and 16, adapting the same to be itted into odd corners and close off the same against the accumulation of dust and dirt behind the cabinet lil and between the latter and the walls against "which it is pla'ced,- its placement against a wall being facilitated by the round cross secto of the operative unit,` thus allowing plenty of cir- .culation space between the operative unit and -the usual rectangular housing for diffusion of heat of compression of the Operating mechanism. An example of the exterior for the cabinet lil is illustrated in Figure 14 which shows the door 22, the door 24 and the louvers 64-85 to the butter compartment 61, the optional outside drop shelf Il, the base 2! for the compressor or absorptive system necessary to produce cold, as well as the louvers transversely of the door or closure 22 for 'the circulation of air from the mechanism to dis- -sipate the heat of compression or flame. --ously this arrangement may be modified to suit any particular requirement.

Obvi- Figure 17 illustrates another optional form of the invention, embodied in a cabinet which may contain a plurality of drawers 13, and the top of which may be used as a kitchen counter or work surface. As shown, two cylindrical cooling chamber units may be used together with the refrigerating mechanism mounted within the grilled enclosure 14 between the two food storage units. Both of these units can be run off of one refrig- `erant c'ompressor mechanism, for efiiciency the refrigerant being directed to the unit needin it by means of such mechanism as a solenoid shunt valve sealed within the line. One of the storage units in such arrangement could easily be stepped up to act as a frozen-foods storage unit; the inner "freezer" unit then might be omitted, or, retained, it would act as an intense cold quick freeze" for transforming raw foods to frozen foods of the desired fine-ice-crystal structure. The arrangements illustrated in Figures 14 through 17 are` illustrative of the many forms in which the cabinet can be provided.

It is also contemplated that certain changes and modifications may be resorted to in the defiof said frame members providing an upper bearing a central pivot pin arranged in the bottom of said support and connected to the said standards by horizontal radial arms and providing a lower pivot for said rack supporting frame, means formed in each of said standards for supporting racks in said frame, and a sliding transparent ;closur'e for said cabinet adapted to be operated independently of said door.

2. In a refrigeration unit, in combination with a cabinet having a cylindrical interior wall and a freezing chamber therein, a rotatable rack supporting fram arranged within said cabinet and conformable to said cylindrical wall and having means thereon for adjustably supporting circular food racks, a circular bearing forming a part of the top of said rack supporting frame, a circular frame member formed with the upper end of said support and providing means for manually rotating the same, and a pivot formed centrally of .the bottom of said rack supporting frame, the said frame operatively embracing said freezing' compartment '3. In a refrigeration unit'having-'a cabinet formed with a circular interior wall, in combination, a rotatable food rack supporting frame pivotally arranged in said cabinet, the said frame comprising a plurality of Vertical standards, each having means thereon for adjustably attaching the rim of a food rack thereto, means comprising a circular hearing connecting the tops of said standards, horizontally arranged radial arms connecting the lower ends of said standards and a central pivot connected to said radial arms. a. ring arranged concentrically of said circular bearing providing means for rotating said rack support, and flexible means arranged on one or more of said standards and said arms engageable with the inner walls and bottom of said cabinet and wiping the same in operation.

4. In a refrigeration unit, in combination, a cabinet formed with inner circular walls, the said walls formed' with an annular closed chamber having cooling coils arranged therein, a circular freezing chamber formed concentrically of the upper portion of said cabinet, a rotatable rack supporting frame operatively arranged in said cabinet and having its upper end embracing the said freezing chamber, means comprising a ring forming a part of the upper end of said rack supporting frame for manually rotating the same, means carried by said rack support for wiping moisture from the inner walls of said cabinet when said rack supporting frame is rotated therein, a door for said chamber, and a butter cooler f-ormed in said door and accessible exteriorly of said cabinet while said door is closed.

5. In an automatic refrigeration unit having a cabinet and a circular inner wall therefor, a circular chamber formed in saidinner wall, cooling coils arranged in said circular chamber, a circular freezing chamber arranged concentrically of said circular walls and in the top of said cabinet, a rack support frame rotatably arranged in said cabinet and embracing the said freezing chamber, inner and outer concentrical ring members forming parts of the upper end of said cabinet, the inner ring member providing an upper hearing for said support and said outer ring member providing means for manually rotating said rack support frame, and means arranged on said rack support frame engaging and wiping said circular inner wall When said rack is rotated.

6. In a refrigeration unit, the com bination with a cabinet having a cylindrical interior wall and an opening for accessibility, an outer door for said opening; a transparent inner sliding door conformable to said cylindrical interior beyond said outer door; a rotatable rack support operatively arranged in said housing, said support comprising a plurality of vertical standards having storage racks adjustably affixed thereon, upper and lower bearings on said support for free rotation thereof, a circular frame member connecting said vertical standards above the top of said transparent door providing means for rotating the said rack while the said transparent door is closed, and a butter cooling compartment in said outer door and accessible While said outer door is closed.

7. In an automatic refrigerator, in combination, an insulated cabinet having a cylindrical inner compartment having a freezing chamber in its upper portion conformable to the contour of said inner compartment, a rotatable rack supporting frame arranged in said compartment, the said rack supporting frame having a plurality of radially spaced vertical members, a turning ring connecting said vertical members at their upper ends and a. hearing ring for said frame arrangedooncentrically of said turning ring, a. bearing pivot arranged centrally of the bottom of said rame, an opening in said cabinet having a hinged door, a slidable transparent inner door for said compartment adapted to be actuated independently of said hinged door, and a thermal-controlled conditioning chamberin said hinged door having accessibility independently of the operation of said hinged door.

WALTER H. PUSCH.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,986,022 Stahl Jan. 1, 1935 2,068,550 Knight Jan. 19, 1937 2,115,343 Scurlock Apr. 26, 1938 2,163,182 Warren June 20, 1939 2,318,532 Scott May 4, 1943 2,347,985 Beersman May 2, 1944 2,400,135 Quinn May 14, 1946 Civkin Jan. 28, 1947 

